NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (12-6 MAAC) claimed sole possession of second place in the MAAC by taking the series against first-place Manhattan (14-4 MAAC) with a 10-8 victory on Sunday at Sal Maglie Stadium. The series win for the Purple Eagles was the first against a Jasper team since the 2005 season.

Senior hurler Michael Kellar (Colifax, Ill.) tossed 7.1 innings on Senior Day to remain a perfect 5-0 in conference play. The left-hander escaped numerous jams against the best hitting team in the conference and ran into major trouble just once. He allowed five runs on 12 hits while striking out four, but came up with big pitches in key situations.

The lefty received plenty of run support on the afternoon, as seven players earned hits, including a 5-for-5 performance by third baseman Trevor Rutkowski (Crystal Lake, Ill.). Freshman outfielder Wynton Bernard (Poway, Calif.) collected three hits in the win, including a two-run triple in the fifth inning that proved to be the game-winning hit.

The Purple Eagles scored in each of the first five innings and took a 6-0 lead into the top of the fifth. But the No. 4 hitting team in the nation pieced together a rally, plating five runs in the inning.

With NU clinging to a 6-5 lead and the Japsers having runners on the corners, Manhattan's Mike Onorati grounded the ball back up the middle. The ball deflected off Kellar's glove and second baseman Keith Picconi (Merrick, N.Y.) picked it up and tried to turn the double play to end the inning. His flip to shortstop Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) was knocked loose after the tag and Onorati was ruled out on the play due to interference, ending the inning and not allowing the tying run to score.

Niagara then responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain control of the contest. Kellar also regained his composure and pitched 2.1 more innings of scoreless baseball, keeping the Purple Eagles in it.

"(Sunday) we showed how resilient we are. We didn't get down. We didn't give in," Niagara head coach Rob McCoy said. "This is the first big win since I've been here, and today, it just came down to who fought harder and who wanted it more."

With NU holding a 10-5 lead in the top of the ninth, the Jaspers staged one last rally, but came up short. Manhattan scored three times on four hits, and with the go-ahead run at the plate, sophomore Cam Stykemain (Defiance, Ohio) made a tremendous diving catch in left-center to end the game.

Rutkowski had four singles and a two-run double in the third inning, scoring twice and knocking in two more. Bernard finished with three hits and three RBIs. Picconi brought two home in the second with a double down the right-field line. Matt Wietlispach (Chiacgo, Ill.) connected on a home run to deep center in the fourth inning.

With the victory, Niagara takes over sole possession of second place in the conference with two weeks remaining. NU, sitting at 12-6, is the only team to take a series from Manhattan this year.

The Purple Eagles will take the week off for finals and resume conference play at third-place Marist (11-7) on Saturday.